Machine for repairing runs in fabrics



Sept. 22, 193,1;

W. H. LEAVIN MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS Filed Aug. 14, 1929 4 'sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 22,- 11931. w. H. LEAvlN 1,824,437

4 MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS Filed Aug. 14, 1929 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wil/ram H-LUN @3M-his awww@ 9d?, HQJD' Sept. 22, w, H LEAWN 1,824,437

MACHINE. FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS Filed Aug. 14, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 l /a I V K @5585s *mi L f AQ; t' /7 7 t;

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27 /III'S @www5 nl l IIIII'AIIIIIIIIlllll'lllu 95a 58 IlllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" Patented Sept.V 22, 1931 unirse! s .PATIENT wiLLrAMH. LEnv-rn, or-.ivnw YORKNJY., Ass-Ionen. yfro Gorman KNTBAo MACH-INE CORPORATION.. on New Yon-mm. Y.. A-eonronnrren or DELAWARE @MACHINE ron. Rnrainme nuns. in FABRICS y Application iledl August 14, 19292 Serial No. 385,877. v

rlhis invention relates to the art of repairing runs inlkn-itted and Wovenk fabrics such asst'ockings andi the like. d

One of the yobjects of this 'invention is the i provision of a machine'for automatically relmitt-in-gforrevveaving the threads of a fabric which have become unWoven or unknitted causing a so-called run.

One of the objects of'this invention is the provision of mechanism for feeding the'fabric with the `cross threads of therun held in proper spaced relation and means forinterlocking or' Weaving'jthe crossthreads of the run torepair it. K

The prime object of this yinvention is the provisionof a machine of this-type in which a number of parallel runs maybe repaired! 'An additional object of this invention vis Vthe. provision of a machine having a plural- 20" ity of oscillating needles arranged to repair a plurality 4of 'parallel runs simultaneously.

Another object of th'einvention vis the provision in mechanism of Vthis" type of means for properly holding the fabric under correcttension with the threads which cross the .run fined in the proper spaced relation 'so that :one or a plurality of needles may operate `thereon to repair one or a plurality of parallel runs in the fabric. i

Another object of the invention is the provision of operating mechanism for moving the feeding meansr and; the needles inthe proper timedrelation so lthat `the-needles `Will descend'-betWeenthe-cross threads of the run yat'the proper time, be Withdrawn ltherefrom, and the fabric advanced alll in the .correct timed relation. i

These Aand manyV other objects 'which Wiil appear freni-the following disclosure :are sucoessfullv7 secured 'by means of this invention. This invention resides substantially in the combination.` construction, arrangement,` and relative location of parts allas will be described fingreater detail hereinafter. Referring to thedrawingsin which `the same reference numerals will be used in the various figures to indicate vthe same orsimilar parts j VFigure 1 is a side elevational View of the device with some of `the `parts broken away to more clearly illustratethe operative association of the elements:

Fig. '2 is a frontelevational 'view of the machine with the Vsupporting base omitted:

Fig. Sis an enlarged cross-sectionalV view throughthe arms onthe main standard show-- ing the operating mechanismy for the-needles and the feedinghead:

Fig. llis a cross-sectional view taken' Lon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the relative position of the needle mechanism, the presser feet, the feeding wheels, the spacer Wheels, and the rollerfor holding the fabric on the feeder Wheels:

Fig. 6 is across-sectional view on theline 6-'6 of Fig. Sithrough the feeder head:

Fi gf? is atop' plan view ofthe feeder hea-d;

Fig. 8 is a side elevationalfview ofthe feeder head With the cover vplate removed showing theclutch mechanism for preventing backward -movement of the feeder head.

Fig. 9 a'cross-sect-irmal view through a modi'ed fo'rmof needle bar for holding the needles:

Fig. 1`0`is a side elevational View of a detail of this needle bar: f

Fig. 1'1' is a cross-sectienalview taken-on the line Il-ll of Fig. 9'.'

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig'. 'showing the relative position of the Vpresser feet, the feeder Wheels, the spafeer wheels andthe needles:

Fig. 13 is an enlarged frontelevational vieW ef the meehanisinof Fig. 1Q: Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on the wir) an operat-ive association of elements by means of which the runs in knitted and woven fabrics may be repaired by reknitting so as to completely repair the fabric without leaving any indicating marks that such a repair has been made. The description of the use and operation of this machine will be made in connection with runs such as commonly occur in ladies7 silk stockings. As is well known, such a run usually occursv by the breaking. of a thread, and usually only extends transversely of the length of the run to the extent of one Wale. The run begins at the point of the broken thread and continues to the stopping point being caused by an unraveling of the interlocked threads. Themachine of the above mentioned patent while involving the basic principles of the machine of this invention is more particularly adapted for repairing a run in such fabric which is ofthe width of one wale and which is known as fa single run.

It quite frequently occurs, how-ever, that the threads are so broken in a silk stocking that the run is of the Width of two or more wales ing a plurality of needles by means of whichV a plurality of runs of single wale width may' be repaired simultaneously." Itis also pointed z" out that these multiruns which comprise a series of single runs of one wale width do not extend for the same distance throughoutthe full width thereof. 1n other words, in a multirun the runs in the parallel wales which, although generally adjacent, do not all extend the same distance. For this reason the instrumentalities comprising this invention are arranged so that the single wale runs may be repaired individually, and at the transverse point where one run comes up to an adjacent run other needles as Vneeded may be brought into play `so hat as the repair progresses the entire multirun may-be repaired. When a run does occur in fabric of this nature thef transverse threads of the fabric which are interlocked progressively in a longitudinal direction become disengaged from each other and leave a long narrowstrip in the fabric bounded by the knitted fabric on each side which is connected by a series of parallel transverse threads giving a ladder like appearance. The machine of this invention operates to again interweave or interlock thesetransverse threads to eliminate the run and repair the fabric.

lVith this basic background reference will now be made to the drawings.

As shown in Figure 1 the device comprises a hollow standardl 1 having a supporting ybase 2 and two integra-l hollow and substantially parallel arms 3 and 4. Journaled transversely in the standard 1 is a rotatable shaft 4 having a cam 5 and a fly-wheel and pulley 6 secured thereto. The pulley is connected by the belt 8 to a suitable source of power such as a small electric motor 7 which is supported by a bracket 7 on the standard 1. Encircling the eccentric cam 5 is a collar 5 which rides on the periphery thereof and which has the oppositely extending arms 9 and 10.' Pivotally mounted on the ends of arms 9 and 10 are the collars 11 and 12 respectively, lwhich adjustably engage the levers 18 and 14 respectively. Lever 13 is pivoted at l5 within arm 4, and lever 15 is pivoted at 16 within arm 8. ,A hollowhead 17 is secured to the outer end of arm 3. v

Referring to Fig. 3 there is shown pivotally supported on the end of lever 13 a small pawl 19 which is caused to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21by means of the leaf 'l spring 20. Ratchet wheel 21 forms part of and is securely fastened to the feeding head unit more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. As shown in 6 the arm 4 is bifurcated at its outer end to provide the parallel supporting arms 22. Mounted on a hollow central spindle 23 is the disk 24 having a thin peripheral flange 25 which has a smoothperipheral edge, spacer wheels 2G, one on each T. side of the disk 24 witlithe peripheralteeth 26a, and the feeder wheels'27 one on each side of the spacer wheels which'llit within recesses formed therein. The peripheries of the feeder wheels 27 are roughened or knurled. vAll of these elements including the ratchet wheel 21 are rigidly secured together to form a unit called the feeding head which is rotatively supported on the short shaft 28 secured within the arms 22 by means of screws 29 which also hold the cover plates 30 in place. The peripheries of the feeder wheels 27 are adjacent the bases of the spacer teeth 26a as clearly shown in the drawing,` and the periphery of the flanO'e 25 is likewise in approximately the same plane. As will be apparent from Fig. 6 the feeder head rotates as aV unit on the hollow spindle 28. This unit rotatesin a clockwise directionl as viewed from Figs. 1,

3 and-'5. Secured to one of the arms22 and within a cylindrical recess in one of the feeder wheels 27is the bar 31 having inclined ends as clearly shown in Fig. S. Spring clips 32'rotatively hold Vsmall rollers 33 between the inclined ends of the bar Bland the cylindrical innerwall ofthe recess in the feeder wheel 27,.. vWith this arrangement v,hev feeder head unit may rotate in a clockwise direction, as pointed out above, or a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, but is prevented from operating in a reverse direction Vby meansv of these rollers which am inthe space between the ends of e-ilgi) comme? thewhar andi the cylindjnica'lwwa'll ofthe `feeder Wheel. i y f A-sshowny in:` .Fi-gsjf end;- 4.-.ftl1ene" is secured .toft'he end of lever levaesmall coller SZlWhieh .encirelesithe hollow rod' and :is-fadj usta-hly :secured itl-ieretey Thehollow nod iis'- vertically-.sl-idahl-e :ins thevheadlffandl,the length of .its vertical; stroke may -hevaried hyl -adjusting thefpositionf of collier 84 thereon. ASl-idahly .supported Within the `.hollow rod 35 -isthe needle .h an 56-A which has-` a :manually openable cani member Y85 piwetallysupported en' [the .end itheneofesowas Ltoengagelfthe upper end of hollowl rod 35. By this ar- `rangement the rod` SG-and the needles which are seeured thereto., as will he described. may he raised-upanddownmithin-,the ihol- 'lowv rod. 35 when desired.. ,.Also sup-ported TWithin the head 15K r`are A`two-rods .fand- 39 which. .may zhe Mertieaellyadfjaisted Ltherein by means of .the .adjusting sciiewsr-EO. Secured .to the needle. har 36 Kas shown-nime y.cleanly in Fig.. .5.5 is a `yoke .meinbereil. haring.- .a .trans` Verse kroelzfel supported therein.. y Pivotalsupported on.y the. :nod 54? .anevfilie small blocks 54- andg/ in which ane secured 'it-he .needles .52..and' :5.1.. `As will. beL 4apparent in connection Withthe .machine under description two needles areeniployed. Of .course with suitable" andv obviousmodifications of` this structure any reasonable -n-uinher of needles maybe employed. An .adjusting mut .50is provided =on shaft 54a Asothetthe aleedles may he .adinsted to `any. `desiredt position and theirrigidly fixed in place. llVhen .a needle isnot useit may be swungto the dotted 5position .shown inv Fig 3' and looled in.- thati position.V

djustahly securedltothe lewe-rend of rod 38 is an ,arm havingithe branches which termiuate in the presser :feet 516V which loverlie' a r d lightly Contact 4Withthe .rou-ghened ,surlaces of the feeder. Wheels 2.7.. Also lsecured to the lower yendofrod 3.8:isanamn5-7. which terminates in .a Very .thin narrow spring .fin- `er Which inoperative Aposi-tion contacts lightly with .the peripheryoi airge 25. The posi-- tion of. the presser feet' with respect .to the feeder Wheels .and .the spring xfinger 58. with resilieet zto the flange y.may be adjusted by inea-ns ofy .adijusting .nut 4D. For sake .of clarity in Fig.. .5. spring, finger 58 -is shown in raised position out 'of .Contact `with ,the flange hutyofcourse, .in operative position'it will Contact Alightly with the Aflan-ige.y As is clearin F 1Q spring finger 28- is vof 4about the saine width .as flange 25a-ndliesfhetween the needles :5lY and 52. Adjustably secured-to .the lower end offrod) isa .bracket .594 which vrotatively supports-.a roller 6.0 which is of reduced diameter .at `the .central paritaso as not to Contact with Vteeth 26a but which near its ends is .of `suiicient diameter .to Contact, or almost Contact, with `the iroughened. suri- .face of the feeder Wheels 27'.. This position Witlivrespect. V`,tief lille .feeder Wheels; may f he :aidjnistedihywmeans of nut 140". 'As clear Y *inl ithe Vvfanions igggures iand .pimtieuarly'ifn Eight, stlie pnesser'iieet S65-fare cutaway :on

their lower suzrzaeesxaszshownlat 56a eitlaipoint :arr-little in admancef Yofthe venticalljaxisi of the-needles so that ithethneads which trav- .thel runseare .relatively lineey -fnom vsnoweymentiras-theneedile -moves yentizeally between them. .lnaeonnectionvwith.Figs..14 andlL it may he Wellztoiknow fat' this `time fthezslmpe :of the teeth 26h' 'which :are .s u'bstmntially straight on theiriionwazrdfA edges inclined 'on itheirrear edgeseand :meehin .a smootheume which iis. la zlittlefonwardfroli the tooth.A This K 'form' of? zeoirstruationY .hasK heeny found# Very letlieient for". rapidly :cansingf :the transverse `hhreadsL'l ,02E the mln to fallito fthe 7basent-fthe teeth one 'between eaichtwoadjacentteeth.`

A1 modified: form of needle' :har .anrainge- .nientis-z-shown in Figs); lOyandll'. The hollowrod- 35 is employedfas-fheore .and is :arranged -tonslide `vertically in dihe heady 127. the .hollow rod are two half round needle. ,holdin-gfbamsfrandff provided 'with i fhandles 72; and frespectiively, :by :means fof Whiciiathey :may be 'slid vertically Wfitlin the hollowy rod 315. As gshownin: Figi); the let fhamrd. huir 7.1 is in` raisedfposiiion with -fthe nee die :5 2: Withdrawn Between; the two bars smh-and 71 isi-a at'piecel-ofespring metal:- 74

having ith'e fears 7 3 ywhich :rest 1fonthe top of the ihollow rodi. Spring 7.6? ane struck up .from therrstrip '74 in'foppnsite"-dif re eti on l-so- 'as to. Africtionailly @engage the bars .'50 :and TL 'to :hold them ingauy :desired posi tion. As eheiiore, the "collar: SIL-fis' secured-#t0 .lever 14.- By means 02E thief-.arrangement :eitheror both the needles may be raised or lowered so that'. either-'one alone, rorboth.. n1-ay Ehe-used to operate `on ythe fabric.

A detailedview ofen .anrangementf for enrfp'loyingfthneeneedles-is shown in 126. The feeder vWheelsf are employed 'as rh'efore.

.as Well as .the spacerv Wheels '26 with" 'their -t=eethf26.' front 4o f t-h'ertwo needeslzle and :and ycentnally thereofisv azithirdfneedle'. The presser ffeet 5.6 are .employed asfoefore, but it is `to be noted athattle v spacing; .fdisk's is noti employed.. lll-nfthisca se v the spring inY .ger 584 attached-to fthe` afrm' 57 is 'pro-vided' with a U-shaped :portion at its end providing the .ngens lith this .arrangement any-num:-

,ins

tend transversely of the-feeder head unit so that they lie between the two spacer wheels. When the motor 7 `is started cam 5 revolves and levers 13 and 14 oscillate. The oscillation of lever 13 causes vthe rotation of ratchet whe'el21 through the engagement of its teeth yunderthe presser feet and is held firmly vagainst theiroughened surfaces of thefeeder wheels 27. As the cross threads of the run arrive at the line of vertical oscillation of the needles the needles descend between two adjacent cross threads. It is, of course, understood that the loop' at the end of the run is hooked over the needle hook indicated, for instance, at 52a (Fig. 14). The needle descendsfar enough as shown in Fig. 14 so that the loop formed by the cross threads slips up over the latch 56b of the needle. As the needle is withdrawn upwardly its hook catches Aonto the neXt cross thread and upon continued movement that cross thread is drawn up through the previous loop which loop closes the latch 56b of the needle as the needle is withdrawn. Thus that cross thread is drawn up'thro'ugh the previous loop which slips down off the'hook. )Vith the needle withdrawn the feeder head-unit advances the proper distance so that upon the next descent of the needle it will pass betweenl the next cross threads vof the run. Thus one at a time the cross threads are looped through the preceding loop andthe fabric is repeatedly repaired. Of course, at the end of the run the last loop must be secured by sewing, or in some similar manner. It is emphasized again that the bottom of the presser feet is cut away as shown at 56 so that the fabric is relatively free at the point where the needle operates. Past this point as shown in Fig. 3 for example, the fabric is again held against the roughened surfaces of the feeder wheels by roller 60. In the case of the two needle machine shown if the run is only one wale in width one needle is thrown to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3 until the run becomes two wales in width thenboth needles will be in operative position. When both needles are operating inr order to have two rows of loops formed it is necessary to in effect keep the two fields of action of the needles separate. This is accomplished by the spring finger 58 (Fig. 12) ywhich lies between the needles 51 and 52 and holds the cross threads of the run at their center point in firm contact with the peripheral edge of'flange 25 on disk 24. `In the case of where a run of three wales in width is being repaired and three needles are operating the three lines or fields of action of the needles are kept separate by means of the spring finger' 58 (Fig. 16) having the branch lingers 59. )Vhen desired the needle -run is repaired no unsightly line or mark is left.

Fromthe foregoing description it will be apparent that I have embodied certain new and novel principles of construction and operation in a device for repairing so called inultiruns in knitted and woven fabrics. I am, of course, aware-that many changes in the detail of construction and relative arrangement of parts will readily occur to those skilled inthe mechanical arts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as involved in those principles. I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to my disclosure which is given in an illustrative sense but rather to the scope of the yappended claims.

)Vhat I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is: n

-1. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics and the like, the combination comprising means for supporting the fabric with the threads that traverse the run in spaced relation, means for causing the movement of said means, and means including a plurality of needles for successively looping the cross threads of the run one with another to form parallel lines of repair in the fabric.

2. Ina machine of the type described for repairing runs of a plurality Vof wales in width in knitted fabrics and the like, the combination comprising rotatable means for support-- ing the fabric with the cross threads of the run in spaced relation, a movable member, a plurality of needles on said movable member, and means for rotating said rotatable means in a step by step movement and for moving sai-fl needles with respect to the fabric to successively" form a plurality of interlocking loops between the cross threads of the run to form parallel lines of repair in the fabric.

3. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics and the like in which the runs are of several wales in width, the combination comprising toothed spacer wheels supported for rotation, said spacer wheels being adapted to receive the transverse threads of the runs between the teeth thereof, means for holding thetransverse threadsbetweentheteetli,means including a plurality of needles one for each wale involved in the run, and means for rotating said spacer wheels in step by step movement and for moving the needles with respect to the fabric to effect a successively looping of the transverse threads of the run to form parallel lines of repair in the fabric.`

4. In a device for repairing twoadjacent runs in a knitted fab-ric, the combination comprising two oscillatable needles, rotatable means for supporting the fabric with the threads that cross the `runs in spaced parallel relation, means for oscillating the needles and for rotating said rotatable means, and means for vgripping the threads which traverse the run between the needles.

5. A rotatable feeding head unitof the type described, comprising two toothed spacer wheels, a disk between said wheels for holding themV in spaced relation having a peripheral thread supporting flange and feeder wheels over-lying the outside faces of the spacer wheels, all of said elements being rigidly secured together to form a. unitary structure.

6. A rotatable feedinghead unit of the type described, comp-rising two toothed spacer wheels, a disk between said wheels for holding' them in spaced relation having a peripheral thread supporting flange and feeder wheels over-lying the outside faces of the spacer wheels, all of said elements being rigidly secured together to form a unitary structure and a ratchet wheel secured to the unitary structure.

7. The combination comprising a support, a unitary feeder head rotatably secured'to said support comprising a disk having ape-` riplieral thread supportingl flange, spacer wheels at the sides of said disk, feeder wheels with roughened surfaces enclosing said spacer wheels, and means for securing the disk, spacer wheels, and feeder wheels together to form a unitary rotatable structure.

8. The combination 'comprisinga support, a unitary feeder head rotatably secured to said support comprising a disk having a peripheral thread supporting flange, spacer wheels at the sides of said disk, feeder wheels with roughened surfaces enclosing said spacer wheels, means for securing lthe disk, spacer wheels, and feeders wheels together to form a unitary rotatable structure, andl a` ratchet wheel secured to said unitary structure for rotation therewith.

9. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics and the like, the combination comprising a support, a rotatable feeder head mounted on said support includingtoothed spacer wheels held in spaced relation by means of a flanged thread supporting disk, a needle bar supporting a plurality ofl needles slidably mounted in said support, and means for rotating said spacer wheels and disk and for moving the needle bar an its needles with respect thereto.

l0. In an apparatus of the type described for repairing a plurality of runs in knitted fabrics and the like, the combination comprising means for supporting the cross threads of the run in lspaced relation, a needle bar supporte-d for movement with respect to saidmeans, a pluralityfof movable needles supported on the needle bar, means for gripping the. cross threads between the lines of action of the needles, and means for rotating said means for supporting the fabric and for moving saidV needle bar and needles, said needlesl being adapted to be moved out of operative position at will.V

. l1. In a machine for simultaneous-ly repairing a plurality of runs in knitted fabrics and the like, the kcombination comprising rotatable meansrincluding two toothed spacer wheels supported by arianged disk, a movable needle bar, two needles supported on said needle bar, meansV for impartingstep by step movement to the spacer wheels,'means for moving the needles with respect to the spacerwheels, and means cooperating with the flanged disk for firmly holding the threads which traverse the runs between the lines of action of the needles.

` l2. In a machine for simultaneously repairing a plurality of runs in knitted fabrics and thelike, the combination comprising rotatable `means including two toothed spacer wheelsl supported by a flanged disk, a movable needle bar, two needles supported on said needle bar, means Yfor imparting step by step movement to the spacer wheels,

)means for moving the needles with respect to the spacer wheels, means cooperating withv the flanged i disk for firmly holding the threads which traverse the runs between the lines of action of theY needles, and means for holding the fabric under the proper tension' and forfeeding it tothe needles so that the threads which' traverse the runs are presented successively to the needles.

13. In a machine for repairing a plurality of runs in knitted fabrics and the like, the combination comprising movable means for supporting the fabric with the threads which traverse the runs in spaced relation and for feeding the fabric, a movable needle support, a plurality of needles secured to said needle support, means for operating the supporting and feeding means, means for moving the needle support and its needles, and means for securely holding the threads which traverse the runs at a point between the line of action of each two adjacent needles.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my. hand on this 13th Aday of August A. D.,

WILLIAM H. LEAVIN. 

